Bennett hails Koloamatangi's heroics after Souths outgun Tigers

Sydney Morning Herald

18-05-2025

'With all the injuries that we have, the best go-forward from the middles normally wins the game each week,' he said.
'Wayne put his trust in me – that I'm able to do that for the team.
'I don't care where I play. I just do my best each week and try and win the game for the boys ... my effort doesn't change. I try not to think about it too much. I don't think about my gas.'
Adding to the Tigers' post-match angst, co-captains Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau, and prop Terrell May were overlooked by NSW selectors.
'I'll talk to Jarome privately,' Tigers coach Benji Marshall said. 'I'm sure he'll be disappointed, as we all are. That decision is out of our hands.
'I wish we could do more to get him in that team, but it'll make him hungrier and better.'
Marshall said May had been 'outstanding' on and off the field since joining the Tigers this season.
Koroisau scored two tries – one a spectacular 70-metre effort in which he beat Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell with a sidestep – but it was not enough for him to win a Blues recall.
The Tigers were left ruing a dropped ball over the line by teenage five-eighth Lachlan Galvin when the match was in the balance.
With the Rabbitohs leading 16-12 in the 76th minute and down to 12 men after Tallis Duncan had been sin-binned, Galvin stepped into a gap and sprinted 15 metres for what appeared to be a try that would have locked up the scores.
But as centre Adam Doueihi started sizing up a conversion attempt that could have put the Tigers into the lead, the bunker intervened, ruling that the ball jolted from Galvin's grip before he grounded it.
Two minutes later, Jai Arrow scored for Souths and the Rabbitohs were celebrating their sixth win of the season, which lifted them into the top eight – a noteworthy effort considering their injury toll this season.
Koroisau's opening try, just before half-time, provided a timely boost for the Tigers after Souths dominated the first 40 minutes.
Souths had opened the scoring in the 10th minute when dummy-half Siliva Havili burrowed over from close range and grounded the ball.
Ten minutes later, the Tigers lost Galvin to the sin bin after he made a tackle from an off-side position on Isaiah Tass, who was in a try-scoring situation.
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With the Tigers down to 12 men, Souths five-eighth Jayden Sullivan burst into a yawning gap and an exchange of passes ended with back-rower Euan Aitken diving over.
Mitchell converted both tries.
When winger Alex Johnston raced away for the 197th try of his NRL career in the 60th minute, the Tigers found themselves chasing a 16-6 deficit.
But after Koroisau scored from dummy-half in the 69th minute, it was a four-point ball game.
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The Tigers were coming home with a wet sail, and Galvin appeared to have earned them the lead, but the no-try ruling broke their hearts.
Mitchell warmed up for Origin I with a solid game that included one 80-metre break.